Page 136 of Warrior's Reign
“I think I’ll invite Lohail,” Reign said. His smirk disappeared.
They left her quarters, two guards falling in step. As soon as she’d left the med unit, she’d been placed under arrest and escorted everywhere she went. Vykhan hadn’t seemed concerned, so she’d relaxed.
Reign expected to be taken to an audience room, something grand and intimidating. Instead, Vykhan led her to a greenhouse.
“Ah. . .are we in the right place?” she asked.
He said nothing, simply gestured for her to follow, his calmAdekhanface on. His robes modestly covered his arms again, hiding the marks that still flashed and swirled with the early stages of their settling mate bond.
Vykhan approached a couple standing in front of a hydroponic wall of seedlings and bowed.
Reign bowed as well, deepening the obeisance since technically she was still living on the other side of the law. Extended many courtesies due to her in-laws, but still.
“Rise,yadoana,” a female voice said.
“Adejahna,” the male next to her corrected as Reign straightened.
“So she must be,” the female, who must be the consort, replied. “Or she would not be here in this place, at this time, and under these circumstances. But still. . .” blue eyes very like Ibukay’s studied Reign’s face. “Still so young.” She glanced at Vykhan. “I am told it is a mate bond.”
Vykhan bowed again. “Praises to Haeemah.”
“So young,” she murmured.
“I’m the same age as my mother when she was bonded,” Reign said quietly. “She was already a mother of three.”
“Humans live shorter lives,yada’ami,” theBdahnsaid. “They mate and birth young much earlier than we do.”
“Yes, S.E.T.I. explained everything in detail.”
TheBdahn, Ibukay’s father, faced Reign fully. “We know you, of course, as you were our daughter’s companion some years ago.”
He lifted a hand and flicked, and a holo streamed from his wrist unit. Reign realized after both data and several familiar images crossed the screen, that it was a file. A file that had begun the year she’d met Ibukay.
“Your Yna Ipaluk records showed promise for a human,” her lord continued. “And you having been raised by Benyon Obe’shan was a plus. Your years in private service demonstrated growing skill. We considered for some time who might be our first human lifesworn, and when our daughter asked permission to accept you into her service, we were pleased.”
“The first human lifesworn had to be someone well versed in our culture and ways,” the Consort said, “but still unique despite that. Proof that with training, the humans could become warriors to equal ours.”
“I’m the test,” Reign said. “If I fail, you won’t allow any other humans into Imperial service.”
The Consort pursed her lips. “Perhaps, but not until the stain of failure faded. We have long memories, my people.”
Reign closed her eyes, clenching her jaw. When she opened them, she trained her grim gaze over theBdahn’sshoulder. “How badly did I fuck up?”
TheBdahnlaughed. Even the consort smiled a little. “Not so bad as that,” she said. “There will be a very public trial for my bonded’s sister. Prepare yourself. Everything about your upbringing, your service,everything,will be dissected.”
Reign struggled to breathe. “I could still run away,” she muttered, then winced. Because she’d said it aloud, and hadn’t meant to. But the thought of another round of media attention after having survived the round in the gossip vlogs because of thejokdaht, and then the public interest at Ibukay’s new lifesworn. . .this would escalate the attention.
“You could,” theBdahnsaid, gaze calm. “It has been discussed. But in the end we feel you are suited to service, and we would repay our First and Second poorly by allowing their daughter to slink off into the night. Do you serve?”
Reign bowed. “I serve.”
He nodded sharply, and turned back to his seedlings.
“Until the trial is over, you will remain detained, Reign Rhyksai,” the Consort said. “If you attempt to flee confinement, you will be handled accordingly.”
Reign nodded.
“Now,” Ibukay’s mother said. “I believe you have a wedding to plan? The trial begins in four weeks. Is that enough time to prepare?”
